Rania
Indian restaurant · Downtown ·
Inventive Indian cuisine with theatrical cocktails in a luxurious setting
Inventive Indian cuisine with theatrical cocktails in a luxurious setting
"This fine dining concept seems fit for a queen, and good thing too, since Rania translates to "queen" in Hindi and Sanskrit. The team delivers something entirely enticing here with an inventive menu. There are plenty of contemporary touches along with a few surprises with dishes like chana masala panisse dressed with green garlic chutney, or hay-aged pork vindaloo featuring tender flavorful loin and a block of crispy skin belly accompanied by a rich bowlful of dal Kolhapuri, fluffy Kashmiri pulao and butter-brushed hot naan. Cocktails are designed to complement the rich, bold flavors." - The MICHELIN Guide
"Named after the word for “queen” in Hindi and Sanskrit, One-MICHELIN-Starred Rania offers a bold take on contemporary Indian cuisine with unexpected touches. Highlights at this Washington favorite include diver scallops with Mangalorean curry and grilled fennel, aloo-crusted Verlasso salmon with moilee and spinach kaipu, and hay-aged duck vindaloo featuring masala duck leg and charred spring onion — dishes that marry authentic flavors with inventive twists." - The MICHELIN Guide
"The opulent Penn Quarter space that formerly housed Punjab Grill reopened in 2022 as a luxe new Indian restaurant that holds a Michelin star. Rania, which means “Queen” in Hindi and Sanskrit, offers a multi-course dinner of inventive Indian cuisine goes way beyond the expected (as in dishes like aged duck breast vindaloo or lamb shank accented with black cardamon). Its four-course menu ($90) joins theatrical cocktails and bites at its dazzling Sundowner Bar. The ‘Sheesh Mahal’ — a palace-of-mirrors private dining room hidden to the side — is a prime place to splurge." - Tierney Plumb
"Pick Rania for a dinner date and you'll make it clear you know what you're doing. The lights are low, Indian jazz music plays, the food is special enough to talk about for months after the meal—and it won't feel overpriced. The $90 prix fixe menu changes seasonally, and highlights include a textural pork loin vindaloo with pieces of crispy, fatty belly, or spicy shrimp koliwada with a sweet pepper chutney you'll want to scrape up every last morsel of." - mekita rivas, tristiana hinton, madeline weinfield
"Ultra-luxurious Punjabi Grill turned into Rania in 2022, with the elevated Indian spot earning its Michelin star only a year later. Chef Chetan Shetty’s four-course pre fixe ($90), three course brunch ($55), and chef’s tasting menu ($175) showcase inventive Indian cuisine that goes way beyond the expected. Entrees include homemade paneer accented by spring peas and pecorino or beef short ribs with saffron nihari, charred broccoli rabe, and pickled mustard. Brunch includes some of the same dishes, along with reinvented breakfast dishes, like a lamb shoulder masala eggs Benedict. For dinner, diners can also add on cocktails or wine pairings ($65 for the prix fixe, $125 for the tasting menu) with April Busch — previously of NYC’s two-Michelin star restaurant Atera — leading the wine program." - Emily Venezky